Lake raking apparatus

ABSTRACT

A hand operated apparatus for removing stones, weeds, debris and the like from the bottom of ponds and lakes. The apparatus comprises a rigid foraminious box-like structure having one open side and a handle attached to one edge of the open side and a rigid cutting edge attached to the edge of the open side opposite the handle.

tates Patent Doerr 1 1 Jan. 28, 1975 LAKE RAKING APPARATUS 2,376,555 5/1945 Rocquin 2111/499 x 1 3,132,364 5/1964 Oxley 15/1.7 [76] inventor: Norman N. Doerr, 746 Terrace Dr., 3188668 6/1965 Buckelew H Paul, Minn- 55113 3,220,037 11/1965 Ruhling 1.5/1.7

22 Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 Primary [:xaminer-Frank A. Spear, Jr. PP 423,238 Attorney, Agent, or FirmGai1 S. Soderling [52] US. Cl 15/].7, 15/236 R, 210/169, ABSTRACT 210/170 A hand operated apparatus for removing stones, [51] Int. Cl E04h 3/20 weeds, debris and the like from the bottom of ponds [58] Field of Search 15/1.7, 246.5, 236 R; and lakes. The apparatus comprises a rigid foramini- 210/499, 470, 471, 170, 169 ous box-like structure having one open side and a handle attached to one edge of the open side and a rigid [56] References Cited cutting edge attached to the edge of the open side op- UNITED STATES PATENTS posite the handle. 913,768 3/1909 Roberts 210/497 X 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 LAKE RAKING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In one aspect, this invention relates to a hand operated device for removing debris and the like from a lake bottom. In another aspect, this invention relates to hand operated devices for removing weeds from lake bottoms.

With the expanded use of lake front property for year-around living and recreational uses, problems with the shores and bottoms of the lakes have intensified. Cans and other debris left on the ice during winter sports as well as litter from boating and other summer sports finds its way into the lake where it washes up onto the beaches used for swimming. The glass and other sharp debris presents an ever present danger to swimmers and others who venture near the water requiring constant vigilance and necessitating frequent raking of the beaches. .Weeds also present a problem to those who use the lakes. Weeds can entangle the limbs of swimmers making swimming unpleasant, causing danger and also the weeds near shore can foul beaches and tangle in the propellers of boats causing malfunctions and inconvenience.

PRIOR ART Tug or boat drawn dredges are known for harvesting oysters, sea weed and the like. Such dredges generally have a leading edge which is adapted to sever the material being harvested from the ocean floor and a receptacle to retain the severed material until a sufficient quantity of material has been harvested. The prior art devices are generally designed to cover large areas of ocean bed and thus are not adapted to clean small areas such as ponds or lake fronts. In addition, many of the prior art devices have severing edges which are segmented or flexible so as to pass over rocks and other large objects to prevent said objects from snagging the dredge or being caught in the receptacle.

The lake fronts and beaches normally used for recreational purposes are too small to use a large boat drawn dredge especially in and around boat docks. Also many of the prior art dredges are adapted for gathering only weeds and will not gather debris and rocks.

One object of my invention is to provide a tool which will gather small rocks and debris leaving a clean sandy lake bottom.

A further object of my invention is to provide a tool which is inexpensive and easily formed from readily available materials.

Yet a further object of my invention is to provide a hand operated tool which is suitable for use in small lakes and ponds.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a tool which can be easily manipulated so as to be readily used near docks and other structures.

These and other objects of my invention will become obvious from the following disclosure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present apparatus of this invention provides a tool suitable for clearing ponds, bathing beaches and the like from weeds, cans, bottles, stones and the like. The apparatus comprises a rigid perforated foraminated receptacle suitable for holding material and debris gathered, said receptacle having one open side. A handle is attached at an angle to one edge of the open side providing means to move the receptacle through the water. A rigid cutting edge is attached to an edge of said receptacle opposite the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A further understanding may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals refer to like parts, a lake cleaning apparatus 10 is shown comprising a receptacle 12 having a handle 14 attached thereto.

In greater detail, the receptacle 12 of this invention has a rigid, foraminated box-like structure shown herein as having an arcuate portion although other shapes would form acceptable receptacles. The receptacle 12 has one open side 13 having a generally rectangular configuration. A handle 14 is attached to one edge of the rectangular open side, and is held rigidly in place by three braces two braces 18 being attached to a metal strip 15 attached to receptacle 12 at one and a third brace 20 attached to the opposing edge of the rectangular open side 13. The resulting configuration has rigidity, good strength and insures that the handle and the receptacle will maintain a fixed angular configuration. The angle a between handle 14 and receptacle 12 is shown as and will generally be about 150 to depending on the length of the handle and the size of the bucket. Handles attached at these angles insure that most of the forces expended on pulling the rake will move the rake along the lake bottom and that there will only be a small lifting force tending to pull the rake off the bottom.

The angle should be such that cross bar 15 attached to handle 14 will be above the water level when rake 10 is being used in shallow water. Receptacle 12 is shown with sides 16 which are solid, i.e., sheet metal; however, the sides could also be formed of a foraminated material similar to the rest of the receptacle. The bottom edge 22 of the open side 13 has a unitary, rigid, solid cutting bar 24 attached thereto. The cutting bar 24 extends the length of the open side 13 and helps rigidify the receptacle l2 insuring that the bottom edge of the' receptacle will not bend or slide over an object during use, such as a rock embedded in the lake bottom and leave a portion of the lake bottom uncleaned.

The lake rake of this invention can be shaped and fabricated using techniques well known in the art. For example where the rake is formed of metallic materials the parts may be joined by welding or brazing as well as by fasteners, e.g., bolts or metal screws.

The preferred material for making the foraminated, rigid receptacle of this invention is expanded metal of the type well known in the metal working arts. Such metal is inexpensive, easily worked, readily available in a variety of widths and with apertures of various desirable sizes.

The apertures in the foraminated receptacle can be of various shapes and dimensions the apertures generally being from about A to 2 inches in their greatest di- In operation the rake is grasped by cross bar and open end 13 of rigid receptacle l2, pulled across the area of the lake bottom to be cleaned with cutting edge 24 in contact with the lake bottom. The debris present on the lake bottom will be urged up off the lake bottom, into the receptacle and retained therein. When it is desired to remove weeds which are rooted in the sand, the handle of the rake is lowered toward the lake bottom and cutting edge 24 will dig into the sand severing the weeds and then urging the cut weeds into the receptacle. 1

The rake can be used without digging deeply into the lake bottom and therefore without the exertion of substantial effort but is also strong enough to dig into the sand and sever weeds when necessary. In either case the rake of this invention will leave the lake bottom in a clean, smooth condition suitable for bathing and will tend to remove any irregular contours in the lake bottom which might be formed by the action of waves or ice packs. Although described in connection with the underwater portion of a beach, the rake of this invention can also be used in cleaning and smoothing the dry portions of a beach which are also subject to litter and flotsam which must be cleared away.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that a useful lake rake suitable for removing debris and weeds from lake bottoms has been described. Various modifications and alterations will become apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the illustrative embodiment set forth herein.

What is claimed is:

1. A lake rake apparatus for removing debris and weeds from the bottom of lakes and the like comprisa-rigid, perforated, foraminious receptacle suitable for retaining debris and weeds from said lake bottom, said receptacle having one open side;

a handle attached at one point to said receptacle, said handle being attached to one edge of said receptacle at an angle of about l50-l80;

an elongated rigid cutting edge attached to an edge of said receptacle opposite said handle said cutting edge being adapted for movement along said like bottom; I

a brace having one end attached to said handle and the other end attached to the same side of said receptacle as said rigid cutting edge; and

at least one brace having one end attached to said handle and the other end attached to said container on the same side as said handle, said braces serving to keep said handle in a fixed angular configuration with respect to said receptacle;

whereby when said rake is moved along said lake bottom, water and sand will pass through said foramina but weeds, stones and other debris will be retained within the receptacle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, where said receptacle is made of expanded metal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, where said foramina have a largest dimension of about /2 to 2 inches and represent at least percent of the surface area of said receptacle. 

1. A lake rake apparatus for removing debris and weeds from the bottom of lakes and the like comprising: a rigid, perforated, foraminious receptacle suitable for retaining debris and weeds from said lake bottom, said receptacle having one open side; a handle attached at one point to said receptacle, said handle being attached to one edge of said receptacle at an angle of about 150*-180* ; an elongated rigid cutting edge attached to an edge of said receptacle opposite said handle said cutting edge being adapted for movement along said like bottom; a brace having one end attached to said handle and the other end attached to the same side of said receptacle as said rigid cutting edge; and at least one brace having one end attached to said handle and the other end attached to said container on the same side as said handle, said braces serving to keep said handle in a fixed angular configuration with respect to said receptacle; whereby when said rake is moved along said lake bottom, water and sand will pass through said foramina but weeds, stones and other debris will be retained within the receptacle.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, where said receptacle is made of expanded metal.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, where said foramina have a largest dimension of about 1/2 to 2 inches and represent at least 70 percent of the surface area of said receptacle. 